888 Panda (King Show Games)

888 Panda Review

With 888 Panda, a beloved land-based hit comes to online audiences. At first glance, the game may seem like yet another Asian slot featuring the peaceful bamboo muncher as a top star. However, that panda here looks more like it's ready to pounce than cuddle, and the gameplay beneath the tried-and-true Chinese wrapping is quite interesting and somewhat unique. Even better, packs plenty of punch. The reels of the 888 Panda slot machine grow taller than bamboo, creating tens of thousands of ways to win, while the Hold and Win bonus round delivers outstanding payouts. Both statements are true – if you’re lucky enough, of course.

Let’s talk reels first, as that’s where the game stands out. As the title of 888 Panda hints, this is an 888-payline game. Until the features kick in, at least. By default, we find ourselves at a 3x4x6x4x3 grid, which consists of two different parts – the main grid producing 864 ways and the inner grid producing 24 ways. Wins on different parts of the grid are paid out separately, and more than that, combinations you score on the inner grid pay 5x more! On top of that, the reels pay in both directions, from left to right and from right to left. That’s what’s up.

You can play 888 Panda slot with €0.88 to €88 per spin, and you can do so on any device, desktop, mobile, you name it. It comes with five RTP configurations in mind, namely 88%, 92%, 94%, 95%, and 96%, so don’t forget to look through the rules when choosing a casino to play at. No matter the return percentage, the volatility is very high and the maximum win is solid at 18,400x.

888 Panda Features

As I already mentioned in the first para of my 888 Panda slot review, the reels of the game have the ability to expand, and there’s also a streak-style respins feature that is basically the main attraction. Yeah, that’s it for the features – let’s get a closer look and see how they play out.

Expanding Reels

On any spin during the base game of the 888 Panda online slot, reels may expand randomly to generate additional winning ways. When the feature kicks in, 1 to 5 reels expand to 8 symbols high. Note the inner grid does not expand. This creates up to 32,792 win lines.

Sometimes, the max expansion feature may pop up instead. In that case, the reels of the main grid expand to 9, 10, 12, 9, and 9 symbols in height, respectively, while the inner grid expands to 4, 4, 11, 4, and 2 symbol positions high, respectively. This creates a total of 88,888 ways to win!

Hold and Respin

Keep an eye for shimmering rubies – they are cash symbols and are the key to entering the bonus game. Each has a random monetary value or a Mini, Minor, Major, or Mega jackpot attached to it, and when 6 or more instances drop simultaneously anywhere in view, the Hold and Respins round comes into play.

You get 3 respins to start with and proceed to a special grid of 20 reels, where only cash symbols and blanks are available. The cash symbols are sticky – those that triggered the feature also stay in place until the very end. If a new symbol lands during the feature, the remaining respins counter is reset back to 3. The feature continues until the player runs out of spins or all 20 positions are filled out. In the latter case, you get an additional Grand Jackpot reward.

Theme & Graphics

888 Panda sticks to the familiar Chinese-themed formula, with golden hues, lanterns, and classic symbols creating a traditional, or rather generic, atmosphere. The graphics are sharp and detailed, but the overall visual appeal falls short, mainly due to the lack of animations or the fact they feel pretty much outdated. Then there’s the photorealistic panda – a weird design choice among the cartoonish surroundings. Honestly, is it just me, or does it have that thousand-yard stare, like it’s seen some things? What on PTSD panda is that?

Pros And Cons Of 888 Panda Slot

Our Verdict

I have to hand it to them – when it comes to gameplay, they really delivered. 888 Panda is packed with exciting mechanics, from the expanding reels and both-ways paylines to a solid Hold and Respin bonus with five jackpots on the line. It’s powerful, fun, and rewarding with some serious winning potential. They’ve put plenty of effort into the gameplay, and it shows.

That said, the visuals could definitely use a little more attention from the developers. The symbols on the reels are sharp, but the animations feel outdated. And, of course, I can’t ignore the elephant in the room, or should I say the panda. That photorealistic stare-down is so hilariously out of place, it’s so bad that it is actually so good. This PTSD panda may haunt me in my dreams, really.

All in all, jokes aside, 888 Panda is a solid slot with a lot to offer. If you care more about gameplay than looks, it’s worth a spin.